Early Morning Fire Displaces Nine

MODESTO - Nine people including one child were displaced in an early morning fire on Johnson Street Tuesday.

The fire was reported at about 7:15am at a home on Johnson Street in Modesto. Early reports indicated fire to the rear of a home. Responding fire crews reported a heavy column of smoke visible from downtown.

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The two story home was located to the rear of a property behind another home, with all occupants safely evacuated. Downed power lines created a safety hazard for firefighters battling the blaze.

According to the Modesto Fire Department, the blaze started on the outside of the home before working its way inside. Investigators have yet to determine a cause of the fire, and damage is estimated at $100,000.